Page 29 from: November 2016
29November 2016
software engineers, Megalans also enjoys a part-
nership with outstanding universities, such as
Chalmers University in Sweden,’ the company’s
ceo points out.
Ever ‘smarter’ cars
Modern car designs have spurred a notable
rise in mechatronics, according to Andersson.
These represent ‘more advanced applications’
– for example, electronic control modules, tur-
bochargers with incorporated electronics and
different kinds of sensor that are built into the
vehicle.
Cars are becoming ‘smarter’ by the year. While
current vehicles contain up to a hundred sen-
sors, this number is projected to double by as
early as 2020. This translates into approximately
22 billion sensors used in an estimated 110 mil-
lion light vehicles sold all around the world.
In line with this ‘major manufacturing trend’,
Megalans has been focusing more on this par-
ticular product type for the last five years or so.
‘It really isn’t much of a choice’ to remanufacture
mechatronics, in Andersson’s view. ‘Today, vir-
tually everything they put in a car operates via
sensors – from parking sensors to vehicle speed
sensors, it is a very long list.’
Intense competition
A decided benefit of this sharp upsurge in car
electronics is that ‘possibilities to attract new
business are very promising’. At the same time,
Andersson underlines that competition has
become ‘much more intense’ over the last few
years – and especially from original electronics
manufacturers.
‘Well-known car and electronics brands like
Bosch Group are eager to step into the reman-
ufacturing business,’ Andersson points out.
Indeed, Bosch has set up a network of certified
factories where all wearing parts and critical
components are replaced by original Bosch
parts. Worldwide, this enables Bosch to recycle
more than 3 million used vehicle components
annually.
‘What we are already seeing is more and more
electric cars coming on to the road,’ Andersson
notes. E-mobility has had such a major impact
that Germany, for example, has already declared
that it wants to implement a ban on sales of all
cars which still have a combustion engine by
2030.
Another household name, Mercedes-Benz, is
investing more than US$ 1 billion in battery
production and has announced that every new
model series will be electrified by 2030. ‘As the
popularity of these vehicles increases further, we
will start to focus on remanufacturing electric
engines,’ says Andersson. ‘I see this as an inter-
esting challenge.’
Helping the driver to think
‘The next big thing is, of course, the self-driving
car,’ Andersson goes on to say. ‘A lot of leading
car makers have already been working on this
passionately for years and I believe such vehi-
cle parts will represent another important new
market for us – maybe not today, but in the next
couple of years.’
This new type of vehicle will be equipped with
countless sensors and cameras in order for it to
read traffic signs or to determine the proximity
between the vehicle and obstacles on its journey
such as other cars or people, thereby helping to
avoid collisions. He likens these sensor features
to helping the driver to think instead of merely
regulating the different systems in the vehicle.
Andersson makes specific reference to the Volvo
self-driving car, which has made its debut on the
streets of Gothenburg as part of the pilot ‘Drive
Me’ project. The car maker intends to have a fleet
of 100 such vehicles cruising around Sweden’s
urban zones and motorways by 2017. ‘It is fan-
tastic to have one of the cars driving around in
our own city,’ says Andersson, who is curious to
see how this emerging development will unfold.
The innovative ‘autopilot’ function and dedicated
safety features ‘will definitely shape the future’,
Megalans’ ceo acknowledges. And this car seg-
ment will also leave its mark on the remanu-
facturing business. ‘We’re talking about really
expensive and high-tech equipment,’ he points
out. ‘Companies aren’t simply going to throw
them away if they can be salvaged. This means a
lot more electronics and mechatronics being sent
to us, so bigger volumes to work on.’
www.megalans.se
Megalans has
the skills to handle
‘smart cars’
There are around six million cars on Sweden’s roads
today. Meanwhile, stricter regulations and a surge in
eco-entrepreneurialism have enabled remanufacturing
to blossom countrywide. Göran Andersson of
Megalans affirms that his company has harnessed
these growing trends to become a specialist in
remanufacturing electronic and mechatronic
products for the automotive sector.
Megalans ceo Göran Andersson (right) is looking forward to remanufacturing self-driving cars. In the ‘best case scenario’, Megalans makes a modification and ends up improving the product.
